Stanko, 18, started and played a full 90 for Freiburg's U-19 team as they defeated Hertha Berlin 2-1 in the finals of the U-19 German Cup. Hertha Berlin started US U-20 central defender John Anthony Brooks and Jerome Kisewetter who has also been making the transition from forward to defender.

As a native of Michigan, Stanko signed with Freiburg in August of last year and has been playing mostly with Freiburg's U-19 team. He has seen minutes off the bench occasionally with the club's U-23 team.

Stanko has also made his US debut when he took part in a combined US U-20/23 camp last November in Germany.